About the winery

Our winery and vineyards are located at the southernmost tip of Moravia, in the red wine country of the Blue Mountains. Our story, however, is exceptional among the family wineries of the region and is as unique as our wine.

Our story

When the American Ambassador to the Czech Republic, Craig Stapleton, tasted Pinot Noir for the first time, he knew his lips had just touched something special. Something he couldn't keep to himself.

And so in 2004, he founded the winery that still bears his name today. A name that is linked to a famous American family and under which exclusive wines with the hallmark of diplomacy began to emerge. Wines that are natural, true and alive.

From the beginning to the present

Wine of Charles IV.

When you say “wine from Moravia”, many people think of white varieties like Pálava or Veltliner Green. However, red wines are also grown in South Moravia. What’s more, they were even the first here!

This is due to Emperor Charles IV. One of the most important Czech rulers was, among other things, a wine lover. He was the one who brought grapes from France to the area of today’s South Moravian Region, namely – you guessed it – the red Pinot Noir variety.

The famous Stapleton family

Some 700 years later, Craig Stapleton was born in Kansas, the grandson of Denver Mayor Benjamin F. Stapleton, for whom the airport was named, and a relative of former U.S. President George H. W. Bush. In 2001, he became US Ambassador to the Czech Republic.

Two years later, Craig, together with his brother Benjamin, visited Bořetice and, as a great lover of wine, tasted the local Pinot Noir. He knew immediately that his lips had just touched something unique. And he wanted the whole world to know this experience. So in 2004, he co-founded the winery that bears his name today.

Elegant Burgundy from Moravia

Pinot Noir has been the flagship of the Stapleton winery ever since. It is one of the most challenging grape varieties to grow and process, but Craig Stapleton has never been one for simple things. He knew that wine needed time to reveal its quality.

The unique terroir of the southern slopes of Bořetice offers this quality. Our Pinot Noir vines have been growing there for more than two decades and are characterised by their long roots that grow deep into the soil. The plants take the best of this soil and pass it on to the grapes.

Handmade, conscientious, honest care with an emphasis on sustainability and respect for nature bears the fruit of an unmistakable character. All this is enhanced by aging in wooden barrels made from the revered Francois Frères barrel makers in France. The result is a wine that brings the true and unadulterated elegance of Burgundy to Moravia.

Czech-american story continues

Craig Stapleton has given Bordeaux wine the hallmark of American diplomacy. And the current owners Radek and Mike continue this Czech-American journey. The story of Moravian wine with a touch of America continues.

Today, Stapleton Winery specializes in vintage red wines of organic quality. You will find them on the wine lists of leading Czech restaurants and hotels, but also in many private archives of true Czech wine lovers.

Vineyards in Bořetice

Bořetice - the land of Moravian red wines

Our wines come from the vineyard terraces of the South Moravian village of Bořetice. It lies in the gently rolling landscape of the Blue Mountains and its surroundings are known among growers as the best area for red wines, especially Pinot Noir, in Central Europe.

And it is Pinot Noir that we specialize in at Stapleton Winery - we cultivate 10 hectares of land with this red wine variety.

Our vineyards are oriented south to southwest. The soil is very rich in minerals, containing large amounts of calcium and magnesium. We take pride in the fact that we treat our vineyards in an organic regime, which is annually confirmed by Czech and European certification. We do all the demanding work in the vineyards with respect for nature and with love for the wine itself.